Detroit teachers hold sickout, several schools closed

Several schools in the Detroit school district are closed on Thursday after several teachers called out sick.

Refresh this page for updates and check our closings list here.

As of 7:30 AM, eight schools were closed including Ann Arbor Trail Magnet, Bates Academy, Detroit Collegiate Prep, Gompers Elementary, Medicine and Community Health Academy at Cody, and Stevenson Middle.

The closures started trickling in around 6:00 AM. 20 minutes later, DPS issued this statement:

"The education of our students must be the focus of all Detroit Public Schools employees each and every day. The District has the right to review suspected abuses of sick leave. Any DPS teacher calling off on personal illness in connection with any reported "teacher sick-out" will be subject to a review of their actions. The review will include requiring medical documentation to substantiate the illness in order to determine whether the reported time was legitimately charged as personal illness. Failure to provide documentation may result in the absence being without pay, and further disciplinary action being taken in accordance with District policy." 

This is the second sickout this month. On Dec. 1, the day after Thanksgiving break ended, Detroit teachers called out sick and forced the closure of three schools. Teachers also protested against Gov. Rick Snyder that day, demanding control be returned to the school board.

Both sickouts are reaction to Snyder's plan to overhaul the school district. It's been under state control since 2009 but he recently proposed a new plan to pay off millions in debt but would split the district into the 'old district' and the 'new district'.